Groß Lichtenau was first mentioned in historical documents in 1254 (Lichtenowe) and in 1321 was granted the Chełmno charter (Kulm Law, a legal constitution for a municipal form of government) by the Teutonic Knights. With Klein Lichtenau (now Lichnowy Małe), the village totalled 84 włókas (1,508 hectares). Until 1772 Groß Lichtenau was located in what was known as Royal Prussia (also known as Polish Prussia) in the Kingdom of [[Poland|Poland]]. The First Partition of Poland in 1772 resulted in the creation of a new province in 1773, called [[West Prussia|West Prussia]], in which Groß Lichtenau was located. Groß Lichtenau was situated in the district (Kreis) of Marienburg until the establishment of the [[Danzig, Free City of|Free City of Danzig]] in 1920. Groß Lichtenau came under the control of Nazi Germany during World War II until February 1945, when it was occupied by Soviet forces and returned to Poland. In 2012 Groß Lichtenau (now Lichnowy) was a village in Malbork County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, and served as the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Lichnowy.

Groß Lichtenau was first mentioned in historical documents in 1254 (Lichtenowe) and in 1321 was granted the Chełmno charter (Kulm Law, a legal constitution for a municipal form of government) by the Teutonic Knights. With Klein Lichtenau (now Lichnowy Małe), the village totalled 84 włókas (1,508 hectares). Until 1772 Groß Lichtenau was located in what was known as Royal Prussia (also known as Polish Prussia) in the Kingdom of [[Poland|Poland]]. The First Partition of Poland in 1772 resulted in the creation of a new province in 1773, called [[West Prussia|West Prussia]], in which Groß Lichtenau was located. Groß Lichtenau was situated in the district (Kreis) of Marienburg until the establishment of the [[Danzig, Free City of|Free City of Danzig]] in 1920. Groß Lichtenau came under the control of Nazi Germany during World War II until February 1945, when it was occupied by Soviet forces and returned to Poland. In 2012 Groß Lichtenau (now Lichnowy) was a village in Malbork County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, and served as the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Lichnowy.

Groß Lichtenau was first mentioned in historical documents in 1254 (Lichtenowe) and in 1321 was granted the Chełmno charter (Kulm Law, a legal constitution for a municipal form of government) by the Teutonic Knights. With Klein Lichtenau (now Lichnowy Małe), the village totalled 84 włókas (1,508 hectares). Until 1772 Groß Lichtenau was located in what was known as Royal Prussia (also known as Polish Prussia) in the Kingdom of Poland. The First Partition of Poland in 1772 resulted in the creation of a new province in 1773, called West Prussia, in which Groß Lichtenau was located. Groß Lichtenau was situated in the district (Kreis) of Marienburg until the establishment of the Free City of Danzig in 1920. Groß Lichtenau came under the control of Nazi Germany during World War II until February 1945, when it was occupied by Soviet forces and returned to Poland. In 2012 Groß Lichtenau (now Lichnowy) was a village in Malbork County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, and served as the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Lichnowy.

The 1776 Prussian census lists three Mennonite families in Groß Lichtenau with the following: Regehr, Warckentin, and Willms. In 1820, the village had 558 residents, including 20 Mennonites. In the 2nd half of the 19th century, the village had 212 włókas (3,806 hectares) of ploughland, 459 Catholics, 233 Lutherans, 27 Mennonites, and 54 houses.

Mennonites who were residents of Groß Lichtenau were members of the Heubuden Mennonite Church.